New List of The Best TVs you can afford in 2022

Overview

There’s no such thing as a perfect TV out there, but there’s likely to be one you love out there that’s perfect for you when you buy one.

Whether it’s a first TV or an upgrade, we’re here to help you find the perfect TV.

Our list contains a selection of the best TVs we’ve tested, comparing cheaper sets to higher-end models. We took them through their paces, assessing their smarts, gaming features, and picture and sound quality.

TVs are benchmarked against tests and used as anyone would at home and at testing facilities to determine their performance. Everybody uses TVs. In order to determine which TV offers the best value, we compare the newest models with similar-priced rivals.

Best TV at a glance

The best QD-OLED: Sony XR-55A95K

Check out LG’s best TV : LG OLED65G2

The best gaming TV : LG OLED65C2

A great mini LED TV : Samsung QE65QN95B

The best 8K TV : Samsung QE75QN900A

Smart TV on a budget : Hisense R50A7200GTUK Roku TV

Sony XR-55A95K

We tested Sony’s A95K QD-OLED TV, the first TV combining OLED and Quantum Dot technology.

Sony’s A95K is another minimalist effort but it’s the stand that presents a few problems for home setups due to its size. It can be placed in two directions, however, the rear position ensures you can’t see it from most viewing angles.

Compared to the LG C2‘s four HDMI 2.1 inputs, the A95K lacks HDMI 2.1 sources due to the lack of HDMI 2.1 sources. Its two HDMI 2.1 inputs include eARC, VRR, ALLM, and 4K/120Hz support. It comes with a pair of binding posts, which are unique to Sony TVs. If you want to use the A95K as the center channel for a Sony-centric surround sound system, you can use them.

Faster Response Time

There is no VRR support for AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync, so it isn’t necessarily a gaming TV. As a result of its exclusive features, such as Auto Genre Picture mode, the S95B QD-OLED offers better value than the PlayStation 5.

Compared to the brightest OLED screens, our reviewer observed the A95K to deliver superior colour fidelity and detail levels. It is very impressive to see how much detail can be displayed in both bright and murky scenes on an OLED screen because of the ‘true’ blacks that they provide. Seeing quick action, such as a tennis match, is an area in which Sony excels, and we felt that the TV did so with full authority. Upscaling was less impressive. Our reviewer found the images soft and edgy.

There’s a good deal of sound quality in this movie; big and accurate in terms of how effects and dialogue are placed on screen. This audio quality is good enough that you would have to spend a good deal more to customize the sound.

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LG OLED65G2

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Pros

• Performance with HDR is excellent
• The ability to move better
• Features that cater to gamers
• Design with a slim profile
• Streaming apps available in a wide variety

Cons

• Price increase compared to G1
• Audio quality is average
• There is an extra charge for the stand

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It was LG’s brightest OLED TV when we reviewed the G1, but with the G2 OLED now available, that title falls to LG’s brightest OLED. While the Gallery design has the same uniformly flat rear panel for wall mounting as before, the new OLED EX and tweaked OLED Evo technologies have improved the panel’s brightness even more.

In our HDR test on a 10% window, we measured just over 1000 nits, making it one of our brightest OLEDs. Even though it’s a little brighter than the C2, the Samsung S95B produces brighter, more intense highlights, which increases contrast and depth in the image.

Sharp Images

A high level of detail is provided, with sharp images and vibrant colors rendered by Dolby Vision IQ, especially in the highest resolution. A 95K and Panasonic LZ2000 have been replaced with a softer, smoother, less distracting upscaling of images below 4K. However, motion is not up to Sony’s A95K or Panasonic’s LZ2000.

It is superior to almost all non-LG televisions when it comes to gaming. You can plug your sources in without having to choose between ALLM, VRR and 4K/120Hz HDMI inputs, which support HDMI 2.1 across all HDMI inputs. Aside from Google Stadia and GeForce Now, LG has also increased its cloud storage options.

With VRR, input lag could be reduced to lower numbers for more responsive gameplay, better than the Panasonic LZ2000, but not better than the Samsung S95B.

With its Dolby Atmos mode, the G2 sounds restrained, and lacks the same kind of impact as the Sony A95K. When we listened to non-Atmos soundtracks, we actually found more detail and dynamism. It’s best to purchase a soundbar to go with it, though you should note that DTS soundtracks cannot be passed through the G2, which is disappointing for home cinema fans.

Amazon

Walmart

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LG OLED65C2

This OLED replaces the terrific C1, proving to be superior in almost every way. The design of the TV has changed, as the plinth on which it stands is smaller, so it is easier to place on smaller furniture. Additionally, it makes it easier to trail cables, especially if the soundbar is added. The TV weighs much less than previous generations, so it is easier to set up.

Its extensive list of gaming features makes it a much better TV for gaming than the Samsung QN95B because it includes ALLM, VRR and 4K/120Hz HFR on all HDMI inputs, like previous LG TVs. With Game Boost and VRR, latency is very low. Google Stadia and GeForce Now add cloud streaming capabilities.

Great Picture Quality

This is the second generation of the 2021 G1 to get the brighter OLED evo panel. LG continues to deliver great picture quality. We found it expressive when describing contrast, the added brightness helps sell the difference between OLED’s inky blacks and bright objects on screen. The new Dolby Vision IQ with Precision Detail feature extracts some more detail out the darkest parts of an image, upscaling of HD sources can look stunning and motion is improved over the C1, though we still wouldn’t say it’s as capable as Sony’s A95K. This is the best C-series OLED yet for picture.

Audio is once again so-so, its Dolby Atmos performance is spacious, as well as being crisp and clear, but we found it lacked impact and heft, which is quite common for TVs. A soundbar would certainly help with in boosting the TV’s sound.

Samsung QE65QN95B

Samsung kicked off its 2022 range in the same manner it did its 2021 range, with this Mini LED an improvement over the 2021 model. The naming conventions differ around the world, with closest equivalent to the QN95B in the US being the QN90B.

We found the QN95B built on the already solid foundations laid by the QN95A, with its new Shape Adaptive Light Control feature minimising blooming and increasing the screen’s ability to show highlights without reducing brightness.

QN90B Brightness

The peak brightness measured was higher than the brightest OLED we’ve tested in the Panasonic LZ2000 – the QN95B’s Mini LED backlight produces OLED-esque black levels for greater contrast between the darkest and brightest parts in an image. Add in the set’s wide colour performance and it dazzles with HDR content.

The new refreshed Tizen smart system is a comparative disappointment as we found it contained too much advertising and content suggestions. Samsung has traded the simplicity for a system that is counter-intuitive to use.

From our input lag measurements, the QN95B’s 10.4ms is one of quickest TVs on the market in 2022, better than either the LG C2, G2 or 8K Z2.. The game dashboard allows settings adjustment on the fly and there’s FreeSync Premium Pro for improved performance with PC titles. With Variable Refresh Rate and Auto Low Latency support, there’s freedom to plug a console into any of the HDMI ports.

Samsung QE75QN900A

If you can see past the 75QN900A’s hefty price, Samsung’s flagship 8K series sets the pulse racing with its stellar build quality and spectacular borderless design – the bezel is so slim we could barely see it from our seated position.

With a depth slimmer than the LG G1 OLED, the QN900A is well-suited for wall-mounting, especially with its removable One Connect box that incorporates the TV’s connections and funnels power, video, and audio to the TV. Like the LG, the One Connect box supports HDMI 2.1, with 4K at 120Hz, variable refresh rates and automatic low latency mode (ALLM) featuring, as well as AMD and (unofficially) Nvidia G-Sync VRR.

QN900A

Viewing a range of broadcast and disc-based media, we determined upscaling showed improvements over the Q950TS, the TV unearths clarity and detail from even the lowest-quality sources. Peak brightness is high, briefly reaching 4000 nits in our tests to produce an eye-popping HDR performance. Although blooming has been minimised, we still noticed it with some HDR content. In our estimation, Samsung’s motion processing skills aren’t as good as Sony, Panasonic, or LG.

The Object Tracking Sound Pro system creates a wide soundstage and tracks objects as they move across the screen. We feel it could benefit from going louder to match the cinematic images the screen delivers but the soundstage is wider than most. This is as good as 8K TVs have been, and HD and 4K content benefit from the increase in resolution. The QN900A has been replaced by the QN900B and we’ll be updating this page in due time was we rate that model as being even better.

Hisense R50A7200GTUK Roku TV

Roku TVs are hugely popular in the US but this model is exclusive to the UK market. We didn’t find the Hisense R50A7200GTUK to be a huge upgrade over its B7120UK predecessor – in fact, it probably sounds a little worse than the now discontinued model.

However, it bests the likes of the Toshiba UL20 with its wide-ranging feature set that includes, AirPlay 2, HomeKit, alongside wider voice assistant compatibility, cementing its position as one of the best value TVs.

The quantity of apps available is great, with the likes of Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, BT Sport, Tidal and Prime Video; while Freeview Play adds the likes of BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and All4. The Roku OS is as accessible to navigate as they come, as we found content easy to find, especially with the Roku app.

Gaming?

It doesn’t support advanced gaming features for Xbox Series and PS5 like the discontinued Samsung AU9000, but we measured input lag at 11.8ms, which is great for fast-twitch games that require a quick response.

We observed the picture performance to be of similar quality to the B7120UK, with very good upscaling of Full HD content and an inconsistent performance with SD content.

The brightness isn’t as high as the Philips 58PUS8506, so HDR content won’t look as vibrant, but that’s a familiar story with all budget HDR TVs. At its price point, 4K content delivers a natural, detailed, and colourful image.

Sound quality is a weakness. For undemanding daytime TV it’s fine, but with films it lacks bass to give it impact but with music it sounds messy. We’d recommend budgeting for a soundbar to go with this TV.

While this TV isn’t in the offing to be replaced any time soon, it will face competition by the aggressively priced Metz Roku models that are due to go on sale October 2022.